Starboard 12’6 Touring Deluxe - Review 2023

Review

• DIVEIN.com Score: 4.5/5
• Construction: 4.8/5
• Stability: 3/5
• Maneuverability: 4.6/5
• Portability: 4/5
• Price/Quality: 4/5

This board has an excellent reputation winning 8 out of the 10 gold medals at ISA SUP Worlds in the last 5 years and with it’s innovative design and technology it is clearly a high quality board.  With blue carbon technology and cutting edge performance designs there is no doubt that the Starboard Touring Deluxe Double Chamber board is one of the best on the market.

Overall the Starboard Touring Deluxe Double Chamber is a great paddle board if you want a SUP that allows you to improve your skills and master the sport. It is also relatively easy to travel with because of its smart, compact travel case.

This board is durable, sturdy and maneuverable on water, and is an ideal choice for intermediate to advanced paddlers. The technology used in the board also means that it can handle all types of water and is great for both short and long distances. With lots of added accessories and features making it a good deal for the whole paddle package, including paddle, bag and the board.

Features

• As the name suggests it uses deluxe double chamber technology, this increases the stiffness and safety of the board. This is due to the fact that if one chamber was to burst there would still be one chamber inflated, it is even certified by the US Coast Guard as an official flotation device due to this technology.
• The shape of the board is unique in that it has a narrow midsection and wide tail. This allows for fast gliding on all types of water, makes it stable, maneuverable and can improve tracking.
• The two-in-one shoulder strap doubles as a paddle holder, making it very easy to transport when inflated to and from any body of water.
• A high quality EVA kick pad on the back of the board aids when making pivot turns and moving the board on the water.
• It also features a single, removable slide-in-fin system, so that you can get your board ready by hand right before you hit the water.
• As well as all the performance features the board has two bungee ties to hold down personal items (one at the front and one at the back of the board) and even comes with a magnetic bottle holder and action camera mount placement.

Accessories

The Starboard Touring Deluxe Double Chamber package is the real deal for paddle boarding. It comes with an amazing Lima Tufskin paddle, a lightweight safety leash, a dual chamber pump and a very durable backpack for transporting the SUP board.

• Paddle: The package includes a 3 piece adjustable hybrid carbon Lima Tufskin paddle. This paddle is strong and durable, perfect for whitewater paddling. The paddle also features one of the most ergonomically comfortable handles on the market. Starboard has many good quality paddles such as the Lima or Enduro Paddle.
• Leash: A lightweight safety leash weighting only 70g is included in the pack. Made from Yulex instead of neoprene, it has an 80% smaller carbon footprint
• Pump: A tiki pump offering double and single action high pressure pump with a built in manometer. Also built from upcycled materials, this new pump is 10% more efficient than the previous model
• Backpack: A Starboard Re-cover bag made from upcycled plastic bottles that is made into  the strong 450D material. This bag features padded rucksack straps and a set of wheels for easy transportation.

Stability

The innovative technology of the double chamber means that the board is extremely stable due to a better distribution of pressure. The chamber also doubles the sidewalls and acts like rollable I-BEAMS making the board extremely stiff and stable on any body of water. The materials used in constructing the board are clearly of high quality, with 3k carbon fiber bands adding to the stiffness of the board. This makes the board feel very sturdy when using it. Where the board might lack lateral stability it makes up for it with it’s length, allowing for better distribution of weight and maneuverability.

Maneuverability

The Starboard Touring Deluxe Double Chamber SUP board is extremely  maneuverable and is especially great for touring in different environments such as rivers, lakes and the sea. Its innovative design build allows for superior handling across the water and once you have mastered the board, the feeling of control is perfect. Through quick movements this board allows for effortless turns.

Portability

As an inflatable SUP board the Starboard Touring Deluxe Double Chamber is made to be portable and lightweight. It’s bag, made from upcycled plastic bottles, opens fully to allow the board to be easily placed and re-folded to fit inside. As the board uses sturdy and strong materials it is heavy but the bag comes with wheels and backpack straps to make it portable for everyone, no matter of strength. When inflated the board comes with a comfortable shoulder strap which doubles into a paddle holder. It also comes with a handle in the middle so can be carried in a variety of ways.

Price/Quality Ratio

The Starboard Touring Deluxe Double Chamber board is an expensive investment, however, only the best materials and most innovative technologies are used. As well as using only the best materials the board comes with many added accessories and features, including the bag, pump and paddle, which make the price to quality ratio fair. It is apparent when using the board that it is of high quality, as it’s very durable, sturdy and stiff on the water. For intermediate and advanced paddle boarders this board is a good investment if looking for quality and durability.

Optional Accessories from Starboard

• Starboard Lima Paddle
• Starboard Enduro Paddle
• Starboard Armacore Fin
• Starboard Net Positive Fin
• Starboard Coil Race Leash
• Starboard Surf Leash
• Starboard V8 double action pump

Do we recommend it?

Yes, we strongly recommend this SUP board. The Starboard Touring Deluxe Double Chamber SUP Board is recommended for intermediate paddle boarders ready to challenge themselves on the water. It is also recommended for experienced paddle boarders who enjoy touring with their paddle board as this board is perfect for touring. It is also one of the most environmentally friendly SUP boards available, so it is highly recommended for ethical consumers. Check out our full lineup of the best Starboard SUPs here.